RECORD OF SERVICE: Enlisted as 4th corporal 02 Jun 1861 at Luray in Company K ("Page Volunteers"), 10th Virginia Infantry. Not reelected Apr 1862, reduced to the rank of private 24 Apr 1862. AWOL 1 Jul 1862 - 31 Aug 1862. Elected 3rd lieutenant 9 Jun 1863. Absent sick 11 Jul 1863 - 31 Dec 1863. POW 10 May 1864 at Wilderness. Sent to Ft. Delaware, DE 17 May 1864; Ft Pulaski, GA. 20 Oct 1864 - 26 Dec 1864; Hilton Head, S.C.; Ft. Delaware, DE again 12 May 1865. Released under Oath of Allegiance 16 Jun 1865; dark complexion and hair, gray eyes, 5'10". One of the "Immortal 600" that, as prisoners-of-war, were subjected by Federal authorities to fire from Confederate guns (unknowingly by the Confederates who were directing the fire). Returned to Ft. Delaware Mar 1865. Released under Oath of Allegiance 15 Jun 1865. Described as light complexion, light hair, blue eyes, 5'9", residence of Page County.
A SYNOPSIS OF HIS LIFE: Just prior to the secession of Virginia, the family of William H. Crisp moved to take up residence in Luray. Crisp, a native of Sheffield, England, had emigrated to the United States in 1845 and originally settled in Ellaville, Georgia. William and his wife were most noted for their roles as Shakespearean actors who started several theaters and toured throughout the South.
As the war opened, the father, and two sons; Harry and Charles, enlisted. Two of the three joined units organized in Page County. William served with the Dixie Artillery and was appointed 1st lieutenant. Harry joined with Company F (Muhlenburg Rifles of Shenandoah County), 10th Virginia Infantry, and deserted in the summer of 1862. He later died in Chicago, Illinois sometime after the war.
Perhaps the most famous of all three was Charles Frederick Crisp. Born January 29, 1845 in Sheffield, England, he enlisted in Company K (Page Volunteers), 10th Virginia Infantry (see record above). Following the war, Crisp returned to Page County only briefly before setting out on a larger political venture.
Using the post-war to prepare for a career in law, Crisp was admitted to the Georgia bar in 1866 and beginning in 1872 served as that states solicitor general and then as a superior court judge. In 1882, he resigned from the bench to run as a Democrat for the U.S. House of Representatives, easily winning election to the 48th Congress. While in this capacity, Crisp participated in the most significant legislative battles at the time. According to one source, "his knowledge of parliamentary rules, his skill in disputation, and his commanding physical presence marked him as a leading Democrat. Playing a major role in the passage of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 and a strong supporter of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890, Crisp was remembered also for using his powers by bringing the Committee on Rules into the Speaker's domain. This committee was especially important as it, being under Democratic direction, virtually dictated the legislative business of the House.
In 1896 Crisp announced his candidacy for the senate seat of the retiring John Brown Gordon (former famous Confederate General) the same seat which had been formerly held by Alexander Hamilton Stephens - more popularly remembered as the Vice President of the Confederate States. Crisp easily won the primaries during that fall because of the free-silver inflationists domination in Georgia. However, Crisp's health soon failed and on October 23, 1896, one week before his confirmation to the post and the general assembly convened, he died in Atlanta, Georgia.
While much of the same information regarding Crisp's political life is conveyed in The Encyclopedia of the United States Congress (1995), more information can be found on Crisp in Reminiscences of Famous Georgians (1908) and the 1954 Georgia Review article "Charles F. Crisp: Speaker of the House."
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